MANILA – Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has branded as “very incredible” the allegations of former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog on him.
Mabilog, during his appearance before the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearing on Thursday, alleged that he was invited by dela Rosa to Camp Crame to be killed or to be coerced into linking former senators Franklin Drilon and Mar Roxas to illegal drugs.
“Very incredible naman ‘yun na papapuntahin ko siya sa Camp Crame para patayin?” dela Rosa said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.
“Before Mayor Jed Mabilog disappeared, tumawag sya sa akin at very much worried daw sya for his safety. I told him, ‘So far ang pagkakilala ko sa iyo mabait ka na mayor at tumutulong ka sa anti-drug efforts ng PNP,’” he added.
Dela Rosa further recalled telling Mabilog: “‘Hindi bale kung takot ka, pumunta ka dito sa akin sa Crame and I can assure you walang mangyayari sa iyo. Kukumbinsihin ko si presidente na matino ka na tao.’ Sabi nya, ‘Yes sir pupunta ako dyan.’ Later on, tumawag sya ulit sa akin na hindi na daw sya pupunta sa akin kasi may nag-advise daw sa kanya.”
Mabilog said in his testimony that he was supposed to meet dela Rosa when he got a phone call from an unnamed general urging him not to go to Camp Crame.
“I made a call and spoke to General Bato who expressed his sympathy. He was talking to me in Bisaya. He told me he knew I was innocent, that I wasn’t involved in illegal drugs, and he promised to help me,” Mabilog said.
“Just after that call, my Philippine cellphone rang. This time, it was another general. His voice was grim: ‘Mayor, do not return. Your life is in danger. The accusations against you are all fabricated, but if you go to Crame, you’ll be forced to point fingers to an opposition senator and a former presidential candidate as drug lords,’” he added.
Mabilog revealed later in the hearing that he was referring to Roxas and Drilon, his second cousin.
Mabilog, who had not returned to the Philippines since 2017 until last week to clear his name, was included in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “narco list”. He denied being a drug protector.
Mabilog told the House quad-comm: “I was not and never will be a drug protector. I don’t know personally nor did I benefit in any way from any illegal drug personality in Iloilo or anywhere else.”/PN